Baby Boom In The 1950's

Cold war baby boomers Korea red scare. The 1950s america can be summed up as music the best fashion and the best music. People moving to suburbs and babies were being born because soldiers were returning home.After World War 2 ended, many Americans were eager to have children because they were confident that the future held nothing but peace and success. Much of this increase came from government spending: The construction of interstate highways and schools, the distribution of veterans’ benefits and most of all the increase in military spending–on goods like airplanes and new technologies like computers–all contributed to the decade’s economic growth. Rates of unemployment and inflation were

As World War Two came to a close, a new American culture was developing all across the United States. Families were moving away from crowded cities into spacious suburban towns to help create a better life for them during and after the baby boom of the post-war era. Teenagers were starting to become independent by listing to their own music and not wearing the same style of clothing as their parents. Aside from the progress of society that was made during this time period, many people still did not discuss controversial issues such as divorce and sexual relations between young people. While many historians regard the 1950s as a time of true conservatism at its finest, it could really be considered a time of true progression in the

Rock and roll helped break many people out of the pre-war mindset and into a new, fresh one. Although many adults detested rock, the younger generation felt that it symbolized a break from the war and the “age of anxiety” that the previous World War had caused. In addition, it promoted a promiscuous lifestyle that celebrated sex and drugs. Rock and roll seemed to be associated with this because many of the “rock stars” endorsed in a loose and laidback standard of living. Because many of the performers practiced recreational drug use, followers felt compelled to do so as well, feeling that that way of life was acceptable. Rock and roll was thought to be outlandish, primarily because of the performers’ gyrating and grinding of their hips, their suggestive lyrics, and rebellious undertones that provoked erotic senses in teenagers and upset parents. Rock and roll was said to establish a sense of identity and power in teenagers, mostly because of the new energy that came from the new style of music. Rock music was seen as satanic by the older generation because it seemed to lead to the

It too grew out of Blues and African American origins. During the Great migration, waves of African Americans moved north in the U.S. with their Blues music. They continued to transform Blues into their own style, but their songs were often covered by whites to boost popularity. Because the whites’ covers didn't do the originals any justice, 1950s Cleveland disc jockey Alan Freed credited African American versions on his “Moondog Show.” His African American following soon flourished into a multicultural audience, so he decided to give the music the title “Rock and Roll.” Like Big Band music, it was kicked off with the help of a particular African American musician; in this case, it was Chuck Berry. Rock, like Big Band, spread throughout the nation and impacted it to such an extent that the genre is still popular. It’s just as much a part of pop culture today as it was in the 50s and 60s. Earlier Rock songs are still covered by current musicians, heard in the stands or in the concert halls. Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney of The Beatles, David Bowie, and Elvis Presley are household names known by all ages. As singer Huey Lewis once said, “the heart of Rock and Roll is still

The time in which the book was published, was a period of a baby boom in the United States. Approximately 4 million babies were born every year in the 1950s. This baby boom represented an era of growth and prosperity within the American people. “After World War II ended, many Americans were eager to have children because they were confident that the future held nothing but peace and

The values of the modern American society have changed drastically from how they were sixty years ago, in the 1950s. The values of today’s society consist of relationships (social), appearances (clothes), and items of possessions (technology).

In the 1950’s American families went through several changes, some of which were positive and beneficial. There were many new technological breakthroughs. Additionally, new forms of entertainment created a generational divide between young people and adults. Americans entered a period of postwar abundance, with expanding suburbs, growing families, and more white-collar jobs. The average income of American families roughly tripled. Thousands of families rushed to buy the inexpensive homes. New suburbs multiplied throughout the United States. Affordability was the key reason most Americans moved to the suburbs.

The 1950s is considered to be the model decade of America. Families were close, children respected their elders, workers worked hard to provide for their families who grew up in nice neighborhoods, and the economy was booming. The forced conformity, neglect of the poor, and segregation are often overlooked when talking about the decade as they were during the time period. The 1950s were a prodigious time period for family life but not for the individual or societal ethics.

During the 1950’s we see an economic boom in America. A large amount of this growth has to do with the money made by Corporations with Military Contracts making goods and supplies for the United States Military. With the Cold War beginning the push for new invention in aviation, rocket propulsion, energy, and even automobiles was at the forefront of national defense. Industrial giants like Boeing, General Dynamics, and Raytheon received 60% if their income from the Defense Department. Ten percent of the domestic (GDP) was from military spending. With fears of falling behind the Soviet Union, gaining any edge in innovation was important. The government even funneled millions of dollars into American Universities for scholarships and research

The term “boom” is frequently used when describing the United States during the 1950s. It’s used to refer to the booming economy, the booming suburban development, and most of all the “baby boom”. After World War II ended, despite the fear caused by the Cold War, many Americans were confident that the future held nothing but peace and prosperity. This belief made Americans start having children, at a rapid rate (around four million babies were born each year). Between 1945 and 1960, the country’s GNP was more than twice the amount prior, increasing from two-hundred billion to more than five-hundred billion. The unemployment rate and inflation rate were very low, and the wages were high. During World War II, many people had to pick up jobs that they weren’t normally doing, so after the war traditional job titles were reaffirmed. The men were expected to be the source of income for the family and women were to take care of things at home.

America experience a golden age in 1950 and early in 1960 results in two developments. One was a booming better balance and national Distributing of prosperity, which greatly changed the, social, economic, and even physical landscape of the United State. The second one was the continuing struggle against communism, a struggle that created considerable anxiety by that also encouraged many Americans to look more approvingly at their own society. (Brinkley 679)

With the overwhelming amount of Levittown houses, the obsession to obtain the perfect American “ideal family” as seen on TV and the unspoken agreement to fear any and all foreign ideas and values, the 1950s were revealed to be a decade of prosperity, conformity and consensus. Just ten years later the atmosphere in America was shockingly different; the 1960s were a decade of turbulence, protest and disillusionment due to the ongoing struggle for civil rights, arising feminism, and the Vietnam War.

When historians observe the 1950’s (50’s) and 1960’s (60’s), they tend to generalize both decades. The 1950’s is seen as a era of conformity and political consensus. The 1950’s are normally viewed as a time of peace and prosperity because many Americans were able to save money during World War II. Mainly white Americans will move to less crowded areas and make their living off of white collared jobs. During the 50’s many Americans will view Communism as an evil, economic power and wish to spread Capitalism instead. The 60’s, however, is viewed as a decade of nonconformity and political divisiveness. Many young men would refuse to fight in the Vietnam war, and women would begin to break the tradition of the “stay at home wife,” and begin to join the workforce. However, both decades show conformity and nonconformity.

Although, the 1950’s were looked at as peace and ‘happy times’ it was a tad bit different from what was advertised. The 1950’s were an era of prosperity, growth, and chaos in the United States. The population during this time was about 151,684,000 with an unemployment figure around 3,288,000 (Bradley). Industries were expanding in order to meet the needs for people

The 1950s were characterized as a prosperous and conformist decade for many reasons. The first and most widespread of these reasons was the development of the suburbs. As masses of Southern blacks migrated northward to the big cities, more rich and middle-class families left to live in the suburbs to escape the crime, redlining, and blockbusting of the cities. This mass migration later became known as the “white flight” (Document A). The white families that moved into the suburbs were the perfect picture of conformity—living in row upon row of identical “Levittown” houses, with little individuality or distinction. Furthermore, American families of the time often took the form of the “nuclear family” with two parents, two children, and often a pet like a dog or cat. This new “middle class” earned between $3,000 and $10,000 a year and included 60 percent of the American people by the mid-1950s. Fortune magazine described Americans as “a great mass…buy[ing] the same things—the same staples, the same appliances, the same cars, the same furniture, and much the